The Thorhild Ukrainian Dancing Club (TUDC) takes pride in owning and maintaining a large inventory of authentic Ukrainian dance costumes and props. Our collection spans the most popular dance regions of Ukraine, including Central, Polissian, Hutsul, Transcarpathian, Bukovinian, and Volyn, ensuring our dancers have the traditional attire needed for every performance. This extensive costume collection helps bring Ukrainian culture to life and enhances the vibrant experience of our club's presentations.
The Pryvit is a dance symbolic of Ukrainian traditions of hospitality and celebration, commonly seen at festive occasions such as weddings and public gatherings. It reflects the warmth and joy of social life, where welcoming guests is of great importance. The dance itself is lively and energetic, featuring a circle formation with clapping, stomping, and quick movements. The costumes are typically traditional, with men wearing embroidered shirts, trousers, and sashes, while women dress in colorful skirts, blouses, and floral crowns, emphasizing the celebratory nature of the occasion.
The Poltava region, located in central Ukraine, is historically known for its Cossack heritage and agricultural traditions. Central Ukraine is the heartland of Ukrainian Cossack culture, which emphasizes freedom, military tradition, and a strong sense of community. The Hopak, an energetic and acrobatic dance, is often associated with Poltava and features rapid footwork, high jumps, and spins. It reflects the warrior spirit and energetic traditions of the Cossack people. Traditional Poltava costumes include embroidered shirts, wide trousers (sharovary), and boots for men, while women wear long skirts, aprons, and richly embroidered blouses, often topped with a headscarf or floral crown, symbolizing their rural roots and Ukrainian heritage. This region is the most commonly associated region to Ukrainian Dance.
The Bukovinian dance hails from the region of Bukovina, a historical area in northern Romania and southwestern Ukraine, including parts of Chernivtsi and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts. The cultural landscape of Bukovina is marked by a mix of Ukrainian, Romanian, and Moldovan influences due to its diverse population. This region’s economy has traditionally been based on agriculture, crafts, and trade, with a strong artistic and musical heritage. The Bukovinian dances are fast-paced, lively, and acrobatic, often featuring spins, rapid footwork, and energetic movement, performed during social gatherings like weddings and community festivals. Costumes in this region are colorful and ornate, with women wearing richly decorated skirts, aprons, and embroidered blouses, and men donning embroidered shirts, woolen vests, and felt hats. These vibrant costumes reflect the region's festive and welcoming traditions.
Although not unique to Ukraine, Gypsy (Roma) dances are an important part of Ukraine’s diverse cultural heritage, especially in the southern regions like Odesa and along the Black Sea coast. Traditionally, the Roma people led a nomadic lifestyle, though many now live in settled communities. Their culture emphasizes music, dance, and oral traditions, often centered around celebrations, family gatherings, and storytelling. Roma dances are highly expressive, dramatic, and filled with spins, twirls, and energetic movements, conveying a sense of freedom, passion, and joy. The costumes are colorful, with women wearing flowing skirts, scarves, shawls, and ornate jewelry, while men typically wear loose shirts, vests, and wide trousers. The costumes reflect the spirited, free-spirited nature of the Roma people.
The Hutsul people live in the Carpathian Mountains, primarily in the Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, and Zakarpattia regions of western Ukraine. The Hutsul tradition is deeply tied to the natural environment, with many of them historically working as shepherds and craftsmen in the remote mountains. Their culture is rich in folklore, music, and vibrant customs. Hutsul dances are known for their vigorous, acrobatic movements, with high jumps, spins, and deep knee bends, often performed to lively music played on traditional instruments such as violins, flutes, and tsymbaly (hammered dulcimer). The costumes are rugged and practical, reflecting their mountain lifestyle. Men wear woolen trousers, embroidered shirts, leather vests, and wide leather belts, while women wear colorful skirts, embroidered blouses, woolen shawls, and distinctive headpieces adorned with flowers and beads.
Polissia, located in northern Ukraine, is a region known for its dense forests, marshlands, and rural villages. The people of Polissia have traditionally relied on agriculture, hunting, and fishing, and the region’s isolation has preserved many traditional folk customs. Polissian dances are known for their graceful, smooth movements, which reflect the beauty of the forested landscape. These dances are bouncy and fast paced with emphasize on high leg movements with repetitive tapping and stamping. The costumes are simpler compared to other regions, with women wearing long skirts, embroidered blouses, and aprons, and men dressed in linen shirts, trousers, and simple hats. The muted colors of the costumes reflect the connection to nature and the rustic traditions of the region.
The Transcarpathian region (Zakarpattia) lies in the far western part of Ukraine, bordering Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania. It is culturally diverse, with influences from Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, and Ukrainian traditions. This region has a mixed agricultural and craft-based economy, with a strong tradition of winemaking and woodworking. The multicultural heritage of Transcarpathia is reflected in its lively and group-oriented dances, which often involve fast footwork and spins, accompanied by traditional instruments like fiddles, flutes, and cymbals. The costumes from this region are influenced by the various ethnic groups, with women wearing colorful skirts, embroidered blouses, aprons, and floral headpieces, and men wearing woolen trousers, embroidered shirts, and vests. The vibrant colors and intricate patterns of the costumes showcase the region’s rich cultural traditions.
The Volyn region, located in northwestern Ukraine and bordering Poland and Belarus, has a history of cultural exchange with its neighboring countries. The people of Volyn have traditionally focused on agriculture, especially grain farming, and are known for their crafts like weaving and pottery. The region’s dances feature rhythmic footwork, stomping, and group performances, with a lively tempo that reflects the hardworking traditions of the area. Volyn costumes are similar to those of central Ukraine, with women wearing woolen skirts, embroidered blouses, and aprons, and men donning embroidered shirts, trousers, and hats. These costumes are modest and functional, reflecting the region’s connection to rural traditions.